As I have been diving into the wide swath of media coverage around climate change over these past several weeks, I have also been thinking deeply about just how divisive this issue can be for many people. Like gun control or immigration, the conversation around climate change is messy and full of emotion for many people. While the reality of climate change is based entirely on science, human beings are driven by passion, mainly when it concerns our own lives; and this passion inevitably makes its way into even seemingly straightforward conversations about concrete facts.
We live in a world where both climate change and the predicament of “fake news” both exist. This perpetuation of false narratives stems is known as “The Grandmother Problem,” where many people, particularly those from older generations, often have trouble distinguishing truth from fiction when it comes to news stories.
Social media has created an environment where it’s easier than ever to share and receive information, even when it’s false. Whether this is from a desire to confirm their own biases or merely a lack of education, we all hold a responsibility to educate one another on the basics of media literacy.
While it can seem awkward and even intimidating to help those in our friend networks identify “fake news,” especially when they’re the ones sharing it, there are tactful ways to educate them. As I’ve been engaging with my own newsfeed these past few weeks, I’ve taken a page out of BuzzFeed News’ book and started to implement a few rules of thumb for dealing with these situations.
Make it a positive interaction
Maintaining a warm and positive tone communicates that you’re not just trying to “troll.” Your purpose is to engage in a personal conversation on the truth of the topic itself rather than argue about partisan opinions.
Provide a reputable source
When someone shares a piece of false information on social media, we should give them the benefit of the doubt. They may not realize that they’re shared something from a fake news publication. Instead of reprimanding them, we should point them in the direction of a more credible source on the topic by providing an alternative article.
Older generations didn’t have to question whether or not to trust Walter Cronkite as he came into their living rooms to deliver the nightly news. Transitioning away from this “trust first” way of thinking has meant difficulty adjusting to a new reality filled with false narratives and deception for many.
While we live in a world dominated by social media where ambiguity is king, we can all do our part to educate one another, and hopefully, point our world in the direction of truth.
